Daniel Geale elevated himself into the top echelon of world boxing and created a piece of Australian boxing history, as he added Felix Sturm’s WBA middleweight Super title to his IBF crown with a 12-round split decision points win in Oberhausen, Germany.
British official Dave Parris and South African Stanley Christodoulou both scored the unification fight 116-112 in Geale’s favour, while American judge Eugene Grant had Sturm ahead 116-112.
Tasmanian-born but Sydney-based Geale became the first Australian-born boxer to unify two globally recognised titles in the same division.
It was an absorbing strategic contest between two accomplished technicians.
Sturm worked well off the jab in the early rounds, but Geale asserted himself more in the middle and latter rounds.
The Australian did better in the inside exchanges, while Sturm’s best work was done on the outside.
Geale, 31, suffered a cut near his left ear early in the fight, but it wasn’t a factor.
He mounted sustained pressure for the first time in the third round and was particularly strong in the sixth and seventh.
Sturm dug deep in the latter rounds, but Geale shaded him in work rate and power punches.
Geale, who was making the third defence of his IBF title, improved his overall record to 28-1, 15 KOs.
Sturm 33, who was unbeaten in his last 14 fights over six years, dropped a points decision in Germany for the first time, with his log now reading 37-3-2, 16 KOs.
Let’s get ready to rumble! Pick a fighter and place your bets with PlayUp for great odds. Chances are you’re about to lose. Set a deposit limit.
Nikita Tszyu defended his Australian super welterweight crown. But a fightback from opponent Danilo Creati threatened to spoil everything in the sixth round.
Nikita Tszyu has overcome a nasty mid-fight moment to score a unanimous points win over Danilo Creati and retain his Australian super welterweight title…
A bloodied Tim Tszyu has been cruelly denied in his quest to emulate his legendary father Kostya and become a unified world boxing champion…
Liam Wilson has suffered further heartbreak in Arizona, the Australian boxer losing his super-featherweight world-title fight against Mexican Oscar Valdez. In front of a…
Tim Tszyu has the chance to emulate his legendary father as a unified world boxing champion after the stakes were dramatically raised for his…
Australia's Alexander Volkanovski has lost his UFC featherweight title to Ilia Topuria, with the Spaniard scoring a stunning second round knockout in the main…
